Many academies could be free to sell off their playing fields without checks
from an independent panel set up to monitor such sales.

Academies who own the freehold to their land or who have leased it from their
local authority for 10 years or more can apply directly to the Government
for permission to dispose of their sports fields without consulting the
independent Sports Playing Fields Advisory Panel.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the number of Academies in this
position could be close to 2,000.

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said schools would only be
allowed to sell